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Arnhild Leer-Helgesen

Head of Department Department of Global Development and Planning

Email: arnhild.leer-helgesen@uia.no
Phone: +47 38 14 15 37
Mobile phone: +47 90 18 96 72
Office: H2003 (Universitetsveien 25, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway)

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Areas of responsibility

Research and teaching in global development studies.

Chair, Norwegian Association for Development Research (NFU). nfu.no

Teaching

Development Studies

Latin American studies

Research

Integration of refugees in public work life in municipalities in Agder (finished)

Project leader for "Gender and Digitalization across context" - cooperation with Makerere University in Uganda and University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Norhed II project 2021-26.

Projects

Gender and digitalisation across context (GENDIG)

Research groups

Mobility, culture and gender

Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild (2018). Rethinking diakonia and transforming our world. The Ecumenical Review. ISSN 0013-0796. 70(1), p. 147–162. doi: 10.1111/erev.12336. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This article analyzes how ecumenical diakonia contributes to a critical view of the power dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, it presents both the opportunities and the challenges the SDGs provide in rethinking diakonia and diaconal praxis. The commitment of the global community to the SDGs signifies a new context for diaconal praxis at local and international levels. In this article, power relations and the priority of the marginalized are presented as key concerns for rethinking diakonia in the current context. A model for diaconal reflection, based on perspectives from development studies and theology, is suggested as a tool for an interdisciplinary rethinking of diakonia aiming at renewed praxis in the context of the SDGs.
Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild (2016). Transformative theology: an ecumenical approach to transformation in Guatemala. Mission studies. ISSN 0168-9789. 33(2), p. 187–208. doi: 10.1163/15733831-12341447. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The Latin American debate on development has been put on the agenda of theologians and church leaders since the 1960s, most critically by the representatives of liberation theology. Different epistemological and hermeneutic approaches have been used. By using a case from Guatemala this paper claims that different theological discourses are in play and influence the way political, social, economic and cultural development is understood and practiced. These discourses are often in conflict with each other. Bjune (2012) argues that the growth and strength of the Alliance of Evangelical Churches in Guatemala (AEG) have made “the evangelicals” a political actor in the country, contributing to maintaining the privileges of the rich and powerful. I argue that the Conference of Evangelical Churches in Guatemala (CIEDEG) and their use of theology can be seen as a counter discourse to that of AEG as well as to what can be seen as western development thinking. The different theological discourses are thus also linked to economy and political influence: While AEG seems to go hand in hand with strong economic forces, the international support for the ecumenically-oriented CIEDEG has declined. This article focuses on theological discourse as an important field in the debate on religion and development in Latin America.
Helgesen, Arnhild (2012). Profetisk diakoni : stemmer frå Latin-Amerika. Norsk tidsskrift for misjonsvitenskap. ISSN 1504-6605. 66(2), p. 111–126. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The concept “prophetic diakonia” was lifted on the agenda at the WCC meeting in Larnaca in 1986. The debate challenges the traditional understanding of diakonia as humble service, an understanding that had developed within the European tradition. Prophetic diakonia has particularly been embraced as a central concept in churches in the Global South. This article presents the theological foundation and uses the socio-political situation in Latin-America after the year 2000 to discuss how one can understand the concept of prophetic diakonia. Both the method and the analyzed material are taken from Latin American theological debate. The article concludes that prophetic diakonia is challenging to the church, but that it also includes a possibility for transformation, reconciliation and empowerment, both within the church and in the society as a whole.

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Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild (2020). Negotiating Religion and Development. Identity Construction and Contention in Bolivia. Routledge. ISBN 9781138392328. 151 p. Full text in Research Archive

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Korsvoll, Nils Hallvard & Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild (2026). Akademisk fridom på tilbakegang - fvn.no. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Akademisk fridom har fått ny merksemd i norsk samfunnsdebatt dei seinare åra, ikkje minst grunna utviklinga i USA.
Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild (2024). Demokratiet under press i Bolivia. Agora. ISSN 1380-6319. doi: 10.18261/agora.41.2-3.17. Full text in Research Archive
Bønnhoff, Heidi Esma Dahl; Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild; Omslandseter, Rebekka Olsson & Stien, Cathrine (2023). Digitalisering og teknologi i et likestillingsperspektiv | Digin. [Internet]. Digin. doi: https:/digin.no/nyheter/digitalisering-og-teknologi-i-et-likestillingsperspektiv/. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Digitalisering og teknologi i et likestillingsperspektiv
Buseth, Jill Tove; Holmarsdottir, Halla Bjørk; Haaland, Hanne & Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild (2023). Er det bistandsmidler som skal sikre kvalitet i norsk høyere utdanning? 3. oktober 2023. Full text in Research Archive
Nilsen, Ann Christin Eklund; Haaland, Hanne; Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild; Revheim, Cecilie & Reichert, Frank (2023). En verden av muligheter? Full text in Research Archive
Jentoft, Nina; Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild; Helmersen, Migle & Hellang, Øyvind (2020). Rekruttering av flyktninger i kommunal oppvekstsektor og omsorgssektor - Presentasjon av et forskningsprosjekt i #drømmejobben 9. november 2020. Full text in Research Archive
McNeish, John-Andrew; Leer, Lars; Krøvel, Roy Gunnar; Nymark, Johannes Andreas; Gloppen, Siri & Leifsen, Esben [Show all 19 contributors for this article] (2013). Menneskerettighetene er udelelige. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116. Full text in Research Archive
Jentoft, Nina; Leer-Helgesen, Arnhild; Helmersen, Migle & Hellang, Øyvind (2020). Rekruttering av flyktninger - Arbeides det for lite med likestilling, inkludering og mangfold i Agder-kommunene som arbeidsgivere? NORCE Research AS. ISSN 9788284080949. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Den demografiske utviklingen viser en økende andel eldre som har behov for kommunale tjenester. Sammen med en høy andel deltidsarbeidende betyr det at Agderregionen fremover står overfor en stor utfordring i å rekruttere tilstrekkelig kvalifisert arbeidskraft til kommunal sektor. Dette er en studie som fokuserer på rekruttering av personer med flyktningbakgrunn i oppvekstsektoren og omsorgssektoren i kommunene på Agder. Denne rapporten presenterer funn fra en spørreundersøkelse til kommunale personalsjefer i tre fylker, herunder Agder, og en casestudie i to Agder-kommuner. Studien peker mot at det bør arbeides mer med likestilling, inkludering og mangfold (LIM) på Agder hvis en ønsker å øke antall ansatte med flyktningbakgrunn i kommunene. Selv om LIM er sentrale begrep i planer og strategier i case-kommunene, synes mangfold og inkludering i flere sammenhenger som tomme ord. Mange ansatte er bevisste på verdien av og utfordringer med mangfold, men dette vektlegges i liten grad systematisk i kommunene. Det er mangler i kunnskap om LIM og selvkritisk refleksjon og bevissthet rundt mekanismer for strukturell diskriminering i kommunene. Et illustrerende eksempel som trekkes frem i våre data er krav om språkferdigheter, som ikke dekkes i håndbøker for tilsetting, og er uklart formulert i stillingsannonser. Hva som er «god norsk» er opp til enkeltpersoner i tilsettingsprosessen, der dette ikke er dekket i lovkrav. Her er det grunn til å spørre seg om språkkrav kan bli brukt som et dekke for underliggende holdninger basert på nasjonal opprinnelse, nasjonalitet og/eller religion. Et annet eksempel er at det ofte tas for gitt at personer med flyktningbakgrunn har lav eller ingen formell utdanning. Dette kan stemme for noen, men langt fra alle. Kan denne antakelsen være et ekstra, skjult, hinder i en rekrutteringsprosess?

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Published Apr. 16, 2024 11:07 AM